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guardareve · 11 months ago

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Alto, quem vem lá? Oh, só podia ser 𝐑𝐄𝐕𝐄-𝐄𝐓𝐈𝐋𝐋𝐄𝐍𝐄 𝐋𝐀𝐔𝐑𝐄𝐍𝐓, o 𝙂𝙐𝘼𝙍𝘿𝘼 𝘿𝙊 𝙋𝙍𝙄𝙉𝘾𝙄𝙋𝙀 de VINTE E CINCO anos que veio de MISTRALOIS. Você quase se atrasou hoje, hein? Eu sei que você é normalmente ANIMADO e PERSPICAZ, mas também sei bem que é IMPULSIVO e CÉTICO, então nem tente me enganar. Ande, estão te esperando; entre pela porta de trás.

conexões + fotos + musings

𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐔𝐌𝐎

nascido em uma vila em mistralois cuja existência apenas servia para a manutenção da maior prisão da frança, reve enfrentou uma infância de extrema pobreza após a morte da mãe e a negligência do pai, um dos guardas da prisão que nunca o assumiu. subsistindo na vila, onde eram constantemente humilhados pelos guardas que eram as autoridades máximas, ele se uniu a um grupo de rebeldes que roubava dos opressores para sobreviver. após uma tentativa fracassada de roubo ao pavilhão de armas na qual muitos do grupo morreram, reve fugiu com um rifle e uma faca de caça, iniciando uma vida de andarilho, caçando e trocando peles e carne por transporte e suprimentos nas cidades que visitava. em uma delas, se deparou com uma célula dos guardiões que ficou interessada nas possíveis informações que ele podia fornecer da prisão, então foi enviado para a capital para reportar e possivelmente se juntar aos rebeldes. no entanto, um encontro casual com a princesa andré, o qual não reconheceu, em um bar onde outros rebeldes estavam fez com que o acusassem de traição à causa, resultando na fuga dos dois do bar e na oferta de andré para que reve se juntasse à academia militar no palácio. ignorando os rebeldes, reve adotou uma nova identidade, treinou na academia militar, e quando surgiu a oportunidade, tornou-se o guarda pessoal de andré devido a suas habilidades de caça e sobrevivência.

𝐁𝐈𝐎

nascer em mistralois, província com a maior prisão e população carcerária da nação, sem ter dinheiro não é a melhor combinação de vida. isso é pior ainda quando o cenário é a vila que só existe para cuidar da prisão. foi nessa vila que reve nasceu em um berço desfuncional: seu pai era um dos membros da guarda real que trabalhava na prisão e sua mãe era uma camponesa que achou que teria uma chance de boa vida se conseguisse conquistar um dos guardas. ela não estava errada, mas aquele guarda nem deu bola para ela, nem a ajudando com o filho e nem com sua saúde. de fraqueza, sem um corpo saudável para sustentar a doença que reve nem lembra mais qual é, faleceu jovem e deixando para trás seu único filho de sete anos.

sendo mais uma das crianças perdidas, reve foi criado nas ruas da vila, pulando de teto em teto conforme a bondade no coração das pessoas batia. para ganhar dinheiro, fazia como todos da vila e tentava tirar algum dinheiro dos guardas, fosse engraxando as botinas, ou limpando as armas deles, até dar ponto em tecido aprendeu. mas os guardas tinham síndrome de poder ali. distantes da capital, e um ponto que a coroa dependia bastante, era fácil serem os verdadeiros reis, e muita humilhação acontecia em todas as camadas sociais da vila que não eram os guardas.

tw: morte

no começo da adolescência conheceu um grupo de outros adolescentes que não aguentavam mais o abuso. queriam conseguir bastante dinheiro fácil para sair dali bem rápido, então começaram a roubar o que conseguiam dos guardas (celulares, cintos, roupas, o que tivesse disponível) para venderem na vila vizinha, com a ideia de comprarem uma carroça e conseguissem seguir todos juntos pra outro lugar. tiveram a ideia de roubar o pavilhão das armas dos guardas, porque munição e armas valia muito mais que os itens pessoais, mas foram descobertos e os guardas abriram fogo contra eles. muitos do grupo morreram, e reve sobreviveu levando consigo uma faca de caça e um rifle. morrendo de medo de o acharem, decidiu que não mais podia voltar para a vila. com um pouco do dinheiro que tinham juntado a duras penas, comprou um lugar para ele em uma caravana comerciante, e não olhou para trás.

fim do tw.

a carroça só o levou para a próxima vila e o deu comida o suficiente por dois dias. na vila, fez o que fazia antes de pequenos serviços para ganhar dinheiro até que um casal de senhores perguntou se ele podia usar o rifle e a faca pra caçar algum animal para eles, já que a carne dos mercadores estava cara. demorou um pouco para ele conseguir pegar um coelho que fosse, mas percebeu que a pele e a carne davam bem mais segurança que os serviços. então por anos sua vida ficava no mesmo looping: caçava, pegava a pele e carne do animal, pegava carona nas carroças/ônibus com mercadores para a próxima cidade, vendia a pele e carne para o mercador e para a cidade, reabastecia seus suprimentos, caçava. se tornou um andarilho com a única vontade de sobreviver. seus objetivos de vida se tornaram: um teto para dormir, comida quente todo dia, e um grupo estável ao qual pudesse pertencer.

esses três objetivos nunca se concretizaram ao mesmo tempo durante anos, então já era adulto quando conheceu uma célula dos guardiões em uma das milhares de cidades que ele parou. os rebeldes ficaram animados quando reve falou que tinha crescido na vila da maior prisão, porque ele podia ter informações valiosas sobre como funcionava os turnos e organização dos guardas, já que podia fazer mais rebeldes serem soltos. eles o enviaram para a capital para falar suas informações para uma célula rebelde maior, com a promessa que seria muito bem recebido nos guardiões. reve nunca pensou em se juntar aos rebeldes já que era tão desconectado da realidade política e econômica da frança, mas pelo o que falavam parecia que finalmente iria ter as três coisas que sempre sonhou.

em paris chegou a conversar com alguns dos guardiões e falar o que sabia. foi excelente porque ganhava bons trocados pelo o que dizia e até ganhou um quarto temporário em uma pensão até os guardiões decidirem se ele não oferecia perigo a eles. o conforto não durou muito porque justo nas primeiras noites, se encontrou por acaso com o principe andré no bar da pensão. sem saber que ele era o principe da frança que só procurava uma diversão clandestina naquela noite, tiveram uma noite agradável de conversas, e as personalidades pareceram bater tão bem que chamou a atenção dos outros rebeldes ali. um rapaz novo chega com “informações importantes” e do nada o principe ali aparece também? aliás reve não era a pessoa mais discreta em mencionar os motivos que havia se mudado para lá. “ah, uns guardiões quiseram falar comigo umas coisas que…”. já era coincidência demais para não intervirem no momento. foram logo discutir com os dois, e conforme os gritos se tornavam explosões violentas, andré e reve saíram correndo dali, aos gritos de “ traidor! ” atrás de reve, que conseguiu segurar mais os homens para dar mais chance de andré conseguir fugir, e logo ele atrás.

depois de se acalmarem e andré ter percebido não só a situação, mas também que era bem alta a chance de reve ser um pobre coitado que agora estava na lista negra dos rebeldes, se compadeceu e o ofereceu uma vaga na academia de treinamento militar dentro do palácio de versailles. imaginando que perdeu seu último teto, reve aceitou, dando as costas aos guardiões sem nem tentar se explicar.

andré o entregou uma nova identidade: agora se chamaria reve-etillene laurent, o novo recruta das tropas vindo de alguma outra vila em mistralois. ele não se importava, não. finalmente na guarda tinha seu teto, sua comida, e um grupo. o grupo era meio duvidoso, porque reve era péssimo em seguir ordens de autoridade por conta do trauma em mistralois. sua expulsão só não se deu por conta das suas habilidades de sobrevivência, com armas brancas de curto alcance e a mira com rifles eram muito acima da média. na verdade sua atitude desrespeitosa e falta de modos estava para render a desonra militar quando a vaga para guarda pessoal de andré ficou vaga. sendo ele a pessoa que o concedeu o sonho de sua tríade (teto, comida e grupo), além de ter sempre o tratado muito bem, reve aceitou na hora.

hoje está no topo da vida, e não tem ambição nenhuma de querer mudar. está até sossegado demais. como guarda de andré, sua missão seria a proteger dos ataque e a fazer andar na linha… mas a última parte é terrível já que ele é o primeiro que vai passar um pano para os perdidos dele desde que ele saiba onde ele vai. mesmo se descobrir um rebelde, não vai denunciar guardi��o nenhum porque acha que não vai ter benefício nenhum para ele. até que gosta bastante dos guardiões, mesmo que não compartilhe a dor da causa ele admira de longe a união do grupo. só vai fazer algo contra um deles se levantarem um dedo para andré. seus modos melhoraram, mas ainda é bem “bicho do mato”, falando o que der na telha a não ser que andré peça para ele parar, já que ele é a única pessoa que obedece. passou a vida toda pensando “se eu tiver vivo amanhã eu não me importo”, e agora começou a aproveitar regalias e conforto pela primeira vez na vida.

#GENTEE tive de pedir um hiatus no meio do ask game e quase morri de saudades 😭😭😭😭#ainda nao sai kkkkkkkkrying MAS EH PRA VOLTAR ESSA SEMANAAAAAAA aproveitar esse novo evento Q TA LINDO #entrei pra postar a edit quase mofando e apresentar meu novo baby pra quem ja quiser plots antes de eu ter d volta o note so pra mimmmmmm #nn consegui fazer hj as cnns ja to sendo expulsa daqui mas VAI SAIRRR #quem quiser plotar so mandar AQUELE likezinho #VAMOS COMBINAR COISAS NO EVENTO TBBB tanto no reve qnto na reagan!!!!#❪ 🛡 ❫ ─── ⠀ ⠀⠀ 𝐑𝐄𝐕𝐄 𝐋𝐀𝐔𝐑𝐄𝐍𝐓 ⠀ 〳 ⠀𝘼𝘽𝙊𝙐𝙏 ‵

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avathebestx · 2 years ago

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This chapter was SO GOOD!! I can’t believe I actually just read this, it felt like I watched it cause I could picture everything in my head. It had everything, romance, action, trauma that’s being dealt with and SO MUCH MOREE?!??! Amazing, as always love! Keep up the spectacular work. 🙇‍♀️🙇‍♀️❤️❤️

"Sun and Rain Part 2: Age of the Empire"

Chapter 13

"The One That Got Away"

A "Bad Batch" fanfic!

Pairing: Hunter x fem OC, Echo (more best friend pairing)

Warning: brief mentions of PTSD and torture

A/N: This is a chapter I've been ready to get to for a long time! This one's a long one, too, so strap in for a fun ride! 😊

Taglist: @the-sad-batch , @nimata-beroya , @intrepidmare , @cole-kenxbi , @tech-aficionado , @ladykatakuri , @d1n0-dan , @sammi9498 , @darthzero22 , @scarlettrose9901 , @tech-deck , @thebadbatchscyare , @chxpsi , @ilikemymendarkandfictional , @4pplecider , @locitapurplepink , @l-lend , @nekotaetae , @eternalwaffle , @merkitty49 , @avathebestx

《 Chapter 12

》 Coming soon!

All chapters (Part 2) (Part 1)

Explanation: The Bad Batch find themselves on Ord Mantell for information on the bounty hunter after Omega and a part of Kimber's past catches up with her, which leads her to make a difficult choice.

A couple more days had passed since the events on Pantora and the Bad Batch still weren’t any closer to figuring out who the bounty hunter coming after Omega was. The Koriena Force had gone radio silent for the time being as things on Pantora were blowing over. Luckily, Echo happened to remember that there was a contact the Jedi had named Cid that could maybe help them get the information they needed. The contact was on the seedy planet of Ord Mantell and they were already on their way there.

During their trip there, they decided, after everything that had gone down, Omega needed a way to keep in contact with the Batch in case anything happened to her again. Tech located a comm device she could use, though it used to be Crosshair’s. Naturally, hearing that made Kimber feel melancholy again, but she was getting better at pushing those feelings aside. At least, better than before, but it was still a struggle.

Kimber reflected on not that long ago when she’d impulsively and in a moment of grief sent a message to Crosshair. She’d gotten no response back from him, which she figured would happen anyway. However, despite how reckless of a decision that might’ve been, it also had proved strangely cathartic getting some of those things on her mind out, even if it was to him. It almost reminded her of all the times he’d let her vent some frustrations to him…even though that was no longer the case. Would this turmoil ever end or would she be condemned to suffer for the rest of time?

These feelings just wouldn’t leave her be and so, while the boys were busy getting Omega’s comm device set up, she snuck back into her bunk and took out her encrypted comm device again. She hesitated a moment, wondering if this was still a foolish idea, but then decided to go through with it anyway.

She activated the comm to record a message and spoke, “It’s me again. I wonder if you even watched my first message to you and I wouldn’t be surprised if you didn’t. Honestly, I’d be surprised if you listened to this one either. I don’t know why I keep doing this. There’s a lot of things I’m uncertain of right now…but what I am certain of is that I really miss you. I said it before and it’s still true. Not a day goes by where I don’t think about you. I can’t even hear the mention of your name without wanting to just scream and tear my heart out. I hate feeling like this. Things aren’t the same without you. I miss your sarcasm and your wit. I miss watching the sunsets with you on new planets. I just…want you back. You’re not where you belong, Crosshair. You belong with us. We’re your real family…please fight whatever’s going on with you and open your eyes so you can see that again. I need my brother back.” She stopped briefly to take a deep breath as tears were forming in her eyes, but she quickly blinked them away. “Just please be safe, wherever you are now. That’s all I want to say. Goodbye.”

With that, Kimber deactivated the comm and simply sat on the cot for a moment, mulling over what she had just done. It was a big risk sending that message even with an encrypted comm, but she couldn’t help it. She never was sure if she could talk to Hunter or any of the other boys about Crosshair, given how they never seemed to talk much about him anyway except in passing, and if she didn’t get her thoughts out in some way, she felt she would explode.

So as to not arouse suspicion, Kimber left the room shortly after and returned to the cabin of the ship with her squad.

Soon, they reached Ord Mantell and made their way to Ord Mantell City where Echo said the former Jedi contact would be. It was a large, gray city built in a desert valley between two mountain ranges with various towers, including a larger palace-like structure near the center; a couple docking ports around the edges and areas that went below ground level into the more underground parts of the city. They docked the Marauder in one of the ports and then followed Echo through the winding streets to the contact’s location.

As they walked, Hunter asked Omega, “Remember the rules?”

Listing the rules off on her fingers, she answered, “Don't wander off, keep my eyes and ears on my surroundings and trust no one but my squad.”

“And if you get into trouble?” asked Echo.

“Use my comm and give my location,” she stated confidently.

Kimber grinned under her helmet. Omega was definitely a quick learner.

A minute later, they came to an alleyway and Echo stopped in front of an open doorway and said, “This is the place.” Sure enough, there was a neon sign that read “Cid’s” above a shady-looking open stairway that went down even further underground.

“Charming,” Tech stated flatly.

They all went down the stairs to another door that slid open as they approached. Then they stepped inside a dimly-lit parlor that had a blue-lit bar off to the left with well-stocked shelves of drinks behind it, holotables including dejarik and slot machines along the back and the other side. There was nobody else inside save for a Weequay and Ithorian arguing over a game and a short, pudgy Trandoshan with beads around their neck near the entrance inspecting one of the slot machines.

“Which one of them is Cid?” inquired Kimber.

“I couldn’t tell you,” replied Echo. “I only heard about Cid. Never actually met him.”

“That would have been information to share earlier,” Tech lightly chided him.

Hunter decided to ask about Cid and approached the Trandoshan kneeling on the ground. “We’re looking for Cid. You know him?” he asked.

The Trandoshan turned around to face him and stood up, saying nonchalantly with a nasally, female voice, “Cid, huh? Nope. Doesn’t ring a bell.”

“What about them?” he then asked, gesturing with his head to the fighting aliens on the other side of the room.

“Was I not clear? You’re in the wrong place,” the Trandoshan emphasized abruptly. “So unless you’re here to spend money, get lost.” Then she walked away over towards the bar.

“Great plan, Echo,” Wrecker chastised Echo with a roll of his eyes.

Echo refuted, “I’m certain this is Cid’s.”

Though, Kimber noticed that Omega was away from the group and tapping on the buttons on the nearest deactivated dejarik table in the parlor. She went over to the young girl and asked her, “Omega, should you be touching that, dear?”

She withdrew her hand away. “Sorry,” she said with a sheepish grin. After that, her eyes drifted over to where the Trandoshan was sitting at the bar and she started walking over to her. Curiously, Kimber followed her, the voices of the Clones debating behind her.

The Trandoshan eyed Omega with an air of annoyance about her. “What’s your deal, tiny?” she asked.

Omega simply stated, “You’re Cid.”

Kimber’s eyebrows shot up at Omega’s assumption.

However, the Trandoshan crossed her arms and replied, “You’re sharper than your friends over there.”

Kimber was slightly taken aback. Omega had actually been right. She was impressed. Then she stole a look back at the Clones, who were still figuring out what to do and hadn’t even noticed that neither she nor Omega were with them. They were completely oblivious.

“Men…,” she muttered, shaking her head and putting a hand on her hip.

“A bunch of laser-brained idiots in my experience,” Cid commented.

With a tiny snicker, Kimber then said to her, “We need information and one of my squadmates believes you can help us. He knew you were an old informant for the Jedi.”

“I can tell they’re Clone deserters, but what’s the deal with you?” Cid asked in reply, not really acknowledging what Kimber said.

Kimber’s head reared back slightly, perplexed. “Me?”

“Yeah, you,” Cid repeated, annoyed. “What’s a pretty dollface like you doing with a group of Clones like them?”

“I’m part of their squad. Now can you help us or not?” Kimber asked abruptly, trying to steer the conversation back.

Pointing at the Clones, Cid answered, “As soon as your goons learn how to shut up and pay attention.”

To help things along, Omega got on her comm and said, hearing her voice echo through the other Clones’ comms, “We found Cid.”

That got the boys’ attention and they all turned around to see both Omega and Kimber pointing at Cid with smirks on their faces.

“You’re kidding me, right?” asked Hunter.

“Not exactly good at first impressions, are you?” Cid asked back rhetorically, getting down from her barstool. “Follow me to my office and we’ll talk.”

The Bad Batch followed after Cid towards the back where there was another small hallway leading to a back office. As they entered the dimly orange-lit room filled with shelves of different trinkets and trophies on them, a holotable in the middle and a large desk on the far end, Cid told them, “I had a good thing going with the Jedi. They valued my insights, but now that they're all dead, the demand for my services has declined. Thanks to this new Empire.”

“Times have changed…for all of us,” said Hunter.

“No kidding. I never had Clone deserters come to me before,” Cid replied, her arms folded.

After that, the Clones proceeded to inform Cid of what was going on and showed her an image on the holotable of the woman who had pursued them on Pantora. Cid did confirm their suspicions that the woman was a bounty hunter, but had no idea who she was. When asked if she could find out who hired the bounty hunter, she responded that it depended on what they did for her in return.

Seeing the confused looks on their faces at such a response, Cid responded, flabbergasted, “Are you fresh outta the tube? You pull a job for me and I get the information you want. That’s how this mercenary thing works.”

“Mercenary?” repeated Echo.

“Not too quick, are ya? Clearly, the kid and the broad are the brains of your operation,” Cid stated.

While Wrecker gave Omega a high five for Cid’s albeit backhanded compliment, Kimber’s face scrunched up unamused at being called a “broad”.

Beside her, Hunter sighed and inquired, “What kind of job?”

Cid went around to the other side of her desk and sat in her chair as she explained, “There's a nice bounty on a kid named Muchi. My sources say she was taken by Zygerrian slavers who are holed up on the other side of the planet.”

At hearing there were Zygerrians involved, Kimber’s whole being went numb and she suddenly got tunnel vision, memories of the Zygerrian who tried to buy her on Mon Gazza flooding her mind. She could feel his hands roughly grabbing her as he tried to take her to his ship, she could hear his taunting voice in her head along with the loud, thunderous pounding of her heartbeat rapidly increasing. Her breathing grew short and labored and she felt a sense of panic rising inside her.

All the Clones had looked to her immediately and Hunter felt her fear right away. “Kimber, hey! Kimber, you’re okay. Look at me. Look at me, sweetheart,” he tried telling her, taking her by the arms.

She kept on hyperventilating, not even registering that he was talking to her.

“What’s her problem?” asked Cid snidely.

Recognizing the signs of an oncoming panic attack, Echo knew he had to do something and fast, so he stepped up and took her arm. “I’ve got her,” he stated to Hunter as he pulled her away, gently laid his hand and scomp arm on her shoulders and carefully led the frightened Kimber out of the room.

Once the door shut, she felt her balance waver and her knees buckled beneath her. Luckily, Echo was right beside her and his arms caught her by the waist and he carefully lowered her to the ground, setting her up against the wall by the door.

“Kim, it’s me. It’s Echo. Listen to me. You’re safe,” he calmly reassured her, taking her hand. “You’re with your squad; you’re with me. The Zygerrians won’t get you again. I’m here, you’ll be safe. Breathe with me.” True to his name, he echoed everything she had done with him when he’d had his major panic attack on Kuat at seeing Wat Tambor again. He placed his hands on either side of her head and brought their foreheads together. “Breathe with me, Kim. Listen to my voice. You’re okay. It’s okay. Just breathe. Breathe with me. I’m here.”

Her rapid breathing had slowly transitioned to long, trembling breaths as she listened to Echo. “I…I can’t…Echo…don’t let them take me…please!” she gasped.

“Never. They’ll never take you from us,” he vowed, wrapping his arms around her and holding her tight and protectively. “You’re with me and the boys. You’re safe with us. Keep breathing. Breathe with me.” His voice slowed and quieted as he went on, “Come back to me, Kimber. Come back. I’m here and I’ll protect you. Hunter will protect you. Wrecker and Tech will protect you. You’ll be all right. Just breathe.”

Her breathing found rhythm with his and they were inhaling and exhaling slowly in tandem. Kimber could feel her heartbeat beginning to decrease in speed and a wave of calm rushed over her as she sat there on the floor in the arms of her best friend. Her breaths were long and steady for a minute or two before they returned to normal.

“There you go…that’s it,” she heard Echo say to her, his deep voice rumbling in her ear on his chest as he ran his hand over her hair.

“Thank you, Echo,” she said, her voice strained.

“No need to thank me. I’m always here for you,” he said sweetly. “I think it might be best if you sat this one out. I’ll talk to Hunter, but I’m sure he’ll agree.”

She nodded as she sat up. “Yeah…I think you’re right.” Her eyes lifted and found his; his bright brown eyes that looked at her with so much care in the world.

He went on, “We’ll handle the mission. You can stay on the Marauder and be there to greet us when we come back with the kid.”

“I can do that,” she replied.

With a pleased grin at seeing she was doing better, Echo took hold of Kimber by the arms and helped pull her up to her feet just as the door swished open and the rest of the Bad Batch came filing out. Wrecker and Omega were first to come through.

“You all right, Kimber?” inquired Wrecker as he spotted them.

She simply nodded.

Tech came out and said, “It is safe to assume, given her accelerated breathing and lack of perception to her surroundings, that Kimber was experiencing a panic attack.”

“Thanks for the obvious diagnosis, Tech,” Echo responded to him, displeased, and shooting him a hard look. As Hunter came through last, Echo then conferred with him, “I think Kimber should stay on the ship during the mission. Her stress over the Zygerrians would hinder her too much.”

“I agree,” said Hunter before turning his attention to Kimber. “You okay?”

Nodding again, she replied, “I’ll be okay. Don’t worry.”

“I always do, remember?” he said back, lightly caressing her on the cheek.

She couldn’t help but give him a small smile back.

“Okay, okay, if Dollface is done freaking out, out here, then get a move on!” they suddenly heard Cid blurt out, shoving her way through them.

Kimber had to grit her teeth to keep herself from saying anything. “Dollface” was definitely on her list of nicknames she wasn’t fond of along with Hondo’s nickname “little tooka”.

They all simply shook their heads in annoyance and then proceeded to make their way to the Marauder to complete the job they’d been given.

Fortunately, the flight to the coordinates Cid had given was looking to be a quick one, since it was just on the other side of the planet. During the flight, though, Wrecker started experiencing some headaches again, but insisted it was nothing. After inspecting the intel Cid gave them, it was determined that the slave traders were holed up in Old Ord Mantell City.

“What’s a slave trader?” asked Omega, who was holding onto a Clone trooper doll she’d picked up on Pantora.

“Someone who buys and sells people for credits,” answered Kimber, an icy undertone in her voice.

Omega’s eyes widened. “People can be sold?” she questioned.

Echo stepped up and answered, “They don’t have a choice. They’re captives treated like property.”

The kid hugged her trooper doll close to her chest and her face fell. “That…doesn’t seem right.”

Both Echo and Kimber exchanged knowing looks, being the two in the group to actually know and understand all too well the truth behind Omega’s statement.

“It’s not,” answered Kimber.

Then Echo added determinedly, “And we’re gonna stop it from happening to that kid.”

“As well as earn a decent amount of credits once the job is complete,” Tech stated.

Kimber felt her chest constrict at Tech’s casual input, even though she knew he didn’t mean it maliciously. His mind was just on other things. “Yeah…that, too,” she replied before turning away and heading to the back of the ship.

Echo followed after her and said, laying his hand on her arm, “You know Tech didn’t mean anything by that.”

“I know,” she said back.

“Don’t worry, we’ll get through this mission quickly and put it all behind us before long,” he reassured her.

She shook her head. “I’m sorry, I didn’t think I’d be so affected by this.”

His hand moved up to her shoulder. “You don’t need to apologize. You know I, of all people, know what you’re going through. We all understand and we don’t fault you for anything.”

“But I’m not able to offer any help at all,” she said, her face ridden with guilt.

“I wasn't much help either when I last saw Wat Tambor on a mission,” he reminded her. “You had to pull me out of my anxiety just as I had to pull you out of yours. It happens to the best of us sometimes and that doesn’t make you any less of a soldier. I had to stay behind when you and the others went after Tambor and that was for my own good. Just like this. You’re staying here while we take care of the Zygerrians and it’s for your own good. You didn’t think less of me then and I don’t think less of you now. None of us do. You hear me?”

Now feeling a bit better about the situation, Kimber mustered up a smile and nodded at him. “Loud and clear,” she said.

A few minutes later, the ship was landed not that far from Old Ord Mantell City. The Bad Batch disembarked the ship after Hunter informed Kimber that they’d keep her on comms just so she was aware of the plan in case anything went wrong. After they left, she sat herself in the cockpit and turned the comm system on so she could hear them.

“I have a visual,” she heard Tech say. “I see only one child.” A few seconds passed before he then said, “I’m clocking two dozen hostiles. Multiple entry points with minor fortification.”

“Simple smash and grab like that time on Kuat. Easy enough. Right, Kimber?” then said Wrecker.

Kimber chuckled, remembering the Kuat Operation, and replied over the comm, “Right, you are, Wrecker.”

A few more seconds passed before she heard Hunter’s voice, “We’re sending Omega back to you, Kimber. We’ll comm you once we have Muchi.”

“Roger that, Sergeant,” she said back.

It didn’t take long for Omega to get back to the ship, her arms folded across her chest and a pouty look on her face.

With a snicker, Kimber told her as she came in, “Don’t be mad, kid. Hunter’s only having you stay behind for your safety. The slavers already have one kid and he doesn’t want you to end up in the same situation.”

"I know…," Omega groaned, "but how am I supposed to prove myself if I don't get the chance?"

"You'll get your chance in time," said Kimber. "We've yet to train you and you'd be in much more trouble if you went out there now."

Omega just begrudgingly grumbled.

Kimber turned in her chair more towards Omega. "Don't be so solemn. Why don't you go get your new Clone trooper doll and play with that for a bit?"

That brought a smile to Omega's face as she then said, "I'm actually making a project out of it."

"Well, let's see," said Kimber.

Gladly, Omega ran to the back of the ship and climbed into her makeshift room. A minute later, she came out with the doll as well as a bottle of something along with it.

Settling on the edge of the gunner's mount, Omega proceeded to inquire, "Kimber, can I ask you something?"

"Of course," Kimber replied.

"Were you…were you a slave before?" Omega went on to ask, appearing nervous about asking the question in the first place.

That was a question Kimber knew had to be coming eventually. She hummed in amusement. "Whatever gave it away? My panic attack or the fact I'm not on the mission?" she asked back sarcastically.

"Both…?" Omega sheepishly answered.

Kimber just snickered lightly and answered, "Yes…I was a slave once. Back on Tatooine. I had been abducted by Tuskens and was with them for a long time. That's how the Bad Batch found me."

"Then how did you end up in their squad?" was Omega's next question.

"I had told them I was a sniper and offered to help them on a mission when I was recovered," Kimber stated. Then she shifted uncomfortably and went on, "I was also almost sold to a Zygerrian once. That's why I freaked out when I heard about this mission."

"You were sold?"

"I was. I was captured by pirates and then sold to a Zygerrian. I would have been taken away and most likely, I would've never seen the boys again and they would've never found me."

"I’m so sorry. That sounds scary."

"It was…it was terrifying. Lucky for me, I was rescued and returned to the Batch not long after, so the slaver didn't get away with me."

Omega smiled warmly down at Kimber. "Well good thing. Things wouldn't be the same without you here."

Kimber offered a smile back. "Thanks, Omega. I can say the same of you, too." She got up from her chair and moved over by the gunner’s mount to see what Omega was doing with her doll. “What are you doing there?”

The young girl withdrew a brush from a bottle covered in black paint and ran it over the front of the doll before turning it around to show Kimber and informing her, “I’m making some alterations to my trooper. Now, she’s a Bad Batcher!”

Kimber was unable to hold back a smile at the newly painted Clone trooper doll, now with black armor and also a skull added on, as well. The notion of making the trooper a Bad Batcher doll was absolutely sweet and endearing.

“What do you think?” Omega asked her.

“Another girl trooper…just what this squad needs,” Kimber replied with a proud grin, which made Omega beam brightly.

“We found their ship.”

They both heard an unfamiliar voice outside and froze up. The Zygerrians were just outside.

“Get behind the chair,” Kimber told Omega, going into protective mode. She grabbed her sniper rifle and put it on her back and then climbed up into the gunner’s mount as Omega climbed into the chair and turned the other way. Kimber then withdrew one of her blasters and pressed herself up against the wall out of sight, her blaster raised and ready to use should the Zygerrians come in.

“Wait, Kimber,” she heard Omega whisper urgently. “There’s a hatch right here,” she added, pointing to the floor and lifting a panel to show that there was indeed a hidden escape hatch just below the gun.

“Ingenious,” Kimber thought to herself, having not known that was even there. Omega must’ve discovered it on her own.

She gave Omega a nod, indicating her to go through the hatch. She heard a second later footsteps entering the ship. Her grip on her blaster tightened, anticipating a firefight if needed. She looked back and saw Omega slip out of the ship with her pack. Stealing one quick look around the corner, Kimber saw two Zygerrians coming onto the ship, but their attention was directed towards the cockpit. Seizing the opportunity while they were distracted, she practically leapt to the open hatch and slid effortlessly down, hitting a lower part of the ship with her feet before carefully and quietly replacing the tile underneath the ship. Then she hopped down to the ground beside Omega.

“Go, go!” she quietly ordered her.

The two of them ran and ducked behind a large rock closeby and watched the two Zygerrians exit the ship, having found it to be empty, get back on their speederbikes and leave the area.

“Call the boys, find out what’s going on,” said Kimber.

Omega got on her new comm device and spoke, “Hunter, do you copy?” When no one answered right away, she said, “Tech? Echo? Wrecker? Anyone?”

Still no one responded.

The two of them moved over to the ledge overlooking the ruined city below and Omega raised up a pair of binoculars she grabbed. “Not good,” she commented before handing Kimber the binoculars.

Kimber took them and peered through them. She spotted the boys, but they were all cuffed together in chains and wearing slave shock collars, along with a few other humanoid people, including a young kid she assumed to be Muchi. They were surrounded by several Zygerrian guards. She gulped nervously. It was going to have to be up to her and Omega to somehow get the lads out of there…out of the hands of Zygerrians. Her breathing grew shaky for a moment thinking about it, but then her eyes found Hunter. It made her furious seeing him and his brothers in chains…no, they were not going to go through the things she had once endured. She wouldn’t let that happen, even if it did mean facing some Zygerrians. They needed her help. It was time to steel herself for her squad.

“Come on, follow me,” she said to Omega.

With that, the two of them stealthily made their way down the rocky hill and onto the roof of a nearby building where they had the Bad Batch in their sights just as a giant winged creature came through the air and landed on a tower close by. Once they were able to get their attention, they signaled to the Clones that they were coming to get them. However, Hunter shook his head and gestured with his head to get back and hide. At that moment, they could hear movement below them and ducked back so they wouldn’t be seen.

However, it was the voice they heard next that Kimber was not prepared for.

“Look at what we have here…four new slaves to add to my collection.”

Kimber’s blood ran chill and her tunnel vision returned, her heartbeat thundering in her head and her ears as she started hyperventilating. No…it couldn’t be! It was him!

She fell back onto her back, gasping for air. This couldn’t be happening…it couldn’t be…what was she going to do? She couldn’t do this.

“Kimber, what is it?” Omega asked quietly yet with urgency, her voice barely registering in Kimber’s ears.

“It’s…it’s him!” she gasped, her eyes fixated hazily on the blue sky above her. “The Zygerrian who tried to take me! He’s…he’s down there!”

She felt Omega take her hand and the young girl’s voice sounded in her ear, “Listen, Kimber, you’re gonna be okay. I know you’re scared, but our friends need us right now. We’re all they’ve got. We have to save them. You can do this! I believe in you, okay?” Kimber turned her head, still breathing heavily, and looked at Omega, who was giving her a determined look. “Just take deep breaths. You’ve got this. They need us. They need you.”

Listening to Omega’s soothing voice started to bring Kimber back down from her panic attack. She began taking deep breaths just like Omega instructed, clinging tightly to Omega’s hand that held hers. The hard beating of her heart began to slow and lessen as a sensation of calm overcame her. Omega was right. Her boys needed her. This wasn’t the time to let her fears control her. Raney the Zygerrian who once tried to buy her was now trying to take her squad; her family. She couldn’t let that happen. Not if she could do anything to stop it.

That thought gave her an idea…one she knew the others wouldn’t like, but in the moment, Kimber couldn’t see any other way.

After heaving one last shaky breath, she told Omega, “I need you to go back to the ship, Omega.”

“What? No! I can’t leave you alone,” Omega argued.

“I have a plan, but I can’t risk you getting caught, too,” Kimber refuted. “Go back to the ship and wait for the boys to return.”

Omega tilted her head, confused. “Wait...what about you?”

Kimber gave her a small, sad smile and just ruffled Omega’s hair as she simply said, “I’ll catch up. Now, get going.”

Without giving Omega another chance to argue, Kimber got to her feet and carefully climbed down the side of the building, hearing below the voice of Raney rambling on about “new beginnings” and “returning to Kadavo”, making her wish he would just shut up. The plan she had in mind, she was sure was going to work, but it was a mad plan nonetheless. She was counting on Raney’s arrogance and lust for power to ensure it worked. She tiptoed quietly around the building until she could see the open area where everyone was convened. She inhaled deeply and then released her quivering breath.

It was now or never.

Then she stepped out from behind some rubble, stopped where everyone could see her and yelled, “Raney!”

All eyes, both Clone and Zygerrian, turned her way. The Zygerrians gave her confused or curious looks while the Clones’ eyes all widened in fear and shock.

“Kimber, no! What are you doing?” Hunter cried out, struggling against his chains.

“Well, well…what a fortuitous turn of events,” droned Raney, slowly walking away from the Clones and in her direction, a knowing, pleased smirk crossing his face upon seeing her. “You are the prized slave girl I bought on Mon Gazza.”

The Bad Batch all exchanged bewildered glances upon hearing that. The Zygerrian they were up against was the very same one who had gone after Kimber before. They couldn’t believe it and they began to grow fearful at what was going to happen now.

Kimber, however, tried her best not to react now that she was looking upon the face of her almost-captor. There was still that terror and anxiety upon seeing him again, but she was determined to remain fearless and not give him any satisfaction. All she did instead was glare at him with the piercing sharpness of a vibroblade in her eyes.

"The one that got away," Raney added, eyeing her maliciously.

"Nice to know your eyesight hasn’t completely diminished, despite getting shot in the eye," she fired back, pointing up to her right eye. She noticed his eye that had been shot by Commander Wolffe was now ghostly white and there was a scar on his face from the wound.

He did not appreciate that comment and growled back at her.

In response, Kimber pulled her sniper rifle off her back and aimed it at Raney, causing the other Zygerrians to pull out energy bows and aim them at her.

"Kim, don't!" shouted Echo.

"Release them, Raney, and I’ll let you walk away with your life," Kimber demanded.

Raney, though, didn't even flinch and went on to say, not even acknowledging her demands, "It is quite curious…you were stolen from me by a group of Clones…and yet, these are not the same Clones who came for you."

"They’re not," she replied firmly, keeping her sights fixed on him through her scope. "Now, let them go. I won’t say it again."

"Killing me won’t get you anything, woman. You do not understand how slave trading works," he said back, his voice almost taunting. "You must either buy their freedom with money or trade something of equal value…and that is only if I’m feeling generous.”

Her grip on the rifle slackened ever so slightly. Her plan originally had been to corner Raney at gunpoint and force him into releasing the prisoners, but she should’ve known he’d be cleverer than that. He wouldn’t give up slaves so easily. He hadn’t intended to give her up even when Wolffe had held him at gunpoint, too. She hadn’t quite thought this through as much as she should’ve. She didn’t have nearly the amount of credits he would want to buy her boys’ freedom. As for trade…there was only one thing she knew he would want…and she knew her squad was going to resent her for giving it to him.

“I’m sorry, boys…I’m sorry, Hunter…please forgive me,” she lamented in her mind.

Lowering her rifle to her side, she stated, “In exchange for them…take me instead.”

The Clones immediately freaked out.

“Don't, Kimber!” cried Hunter.

“No!” Echo blurted out.

“What are you doing?” Wrecker questioned.

Ignoring the pleas of her squadmates, Kimber kept going, keeping her gaze steadfast on Raney, “Think about it: you yourself said I was a prize that escaped you...and if I remember correctly, you paid millions of credits for me, so I’m already worth a fortune to you. This is your opportunity to reclaim me, the slave that got away and humiliated you. Take me and let the Clones go free. That’s my offer.”

Tech then spoke up, “This is not a logical idea.”

“Stop, Kimber, don’t do this,” Hunter begged.

Kimber stole a quick glance over at Hunter and saw the pleading and the fear in his eyes. She knew how much the prospect of losing her again had to be torturing him more than anyone. Sadly, this was the only way she could see him and the others getting away safely. At least this time, she trusted that they’d be able to find her again. She cast Hunter an apologetic look, wondering if he would be able to forgive her for what she was about to do.

Then she turned back to face the Zygerrian before her and told him, “Take it or leave it, Raney. You won’t get a chance like this again.”

He leered at her lasciviously, the deal she was offering just too tempting for him to resist. To be able to reclaim a slave who had escaped him, especially when she was practically giving herself to him was a delicious proposal indeed. The things he would make her suffer for escaping and even more so for disgracing him….

“Deal,” he stated.

“No!” Echo cried, fighting hard against his bonds to get free. The others tried the same thing but to no avail when the other Zygerrians started shocking them or whipping them as punishment.

Raney gestured for another Zygerrian to come forward and the guard brought out a set of stun cuffs and a slave collar.

“Don’t you dare touch her!” Hunter growled, but his collar was activated and it shocked him around the throat, stopping him from talking as he yelped in pain.

The Zygerrian proceeded to lock Kimber’s hands in the stun cuffs in front of her and placed the collar around her neck. Her body was beginning to tremble and lock up, but she held herself together as best she could, still refusing to show any fear.

“But before I let these skugs go…,” Raney then said, walking closer to her, “I must teach you a lesson for humiliating me…and they will watch.”

Immediately after his declaration, he snapped his fingers and one of the guards activated her shock collar, sending painful jolts of electricity through her neck. She fell to her knees and her mouth opened to scream, but the muscles in her throat constricted, catching her cry and choking her with it. Instinctively, her hands moved to grasp at her throat, but were restricted by the stun cuffs. Her neck and head burned from the shock and she released her strangled cry of pain when the shocking subsided, doubling over. She’d only had a second to breathe when the shock collar went off again and the crackling energy shot through her neck again, eliciting another yell of pain, her eyes squeezed tightly shut.

“No!” she heard Wrecker cry out angrily.

“Stop!” then came Tech’s commanding voice.

Hearing her boys’ voices calling out on her behalf brought Kimber both sorrow and strength simultaneously. She hated that they were having to see and endure this; she couldn’t imagine how helpless they had to be feeling, but she also knew they were strong and so was she because of them. She would fight through this torture to the best of her ability and show them and the Zygerrians what she was made of.

As the next wave of shocks stopped, she spoke up quickly through heavy breaths, “You…will not break me.”

“We shall see,” Raney replied back with confidence.

He gestured to the guard again and her shock collar came to life once more, tearing another high-pitched, agonized shout from her. As she doubled over again, Raney took her torture another step further and withdrew a gold electro-whip that was crackling with energy and began whipping her on her back. She cried out again at the sudden searing pain in her back and memories of her torture at the hands of the Tuskens flooded her mind as it continued. Her world began to cave in around her and dread consumed her, despite her attempt at being strong. Now, it was all overwhelming and her body slumped to the ground as the whipping continued, flinching and convulsing with every strike of the whip.

The Bad Batch were in just as much agony as Kimber was upon witnessing the cruelty that was being inflicted upon her, her screams haunting them to their core. The Zygerrians were hurting her and they were helpless to stop them and protect her.

Echo yelled in anger, “You’ll regret this, slaver!”

Hunter desperately cried out Kimber’s name, despair at his failure to keep his love from harm eating away at him.

“Leave her alone!” Wrecker shouted, tugging again on the chains that held them all together, but it wasn’t quite breaking.

“Stop it!” demanded Tech.

Just then, they heard another younger voice shouting nearby, “Let me go!”

The whipping ceased and Kimber raised her head to see another Zygerrian guard carrying Omega, her arms locked at her sides in his arms.

“No…I told you to go back to the ship…,” Kimber thought weakly at seeing they’d grabbed Omega.

“I found her sneaking around the cage,” the guard informed Raney, who had gone over to see what was going on.

“I wasn’t sneaking,” Omega argued. Then she produced a metal part from under her arm, a devious grin on her face. “I was unlocking.”

There was a rattle suddenly from a nearby cage and Raney ordered his men to secure it, but before they could, the doors burst open and a large creature burst out from inside, sending a few of the Zygerrians flying backwards. Out of the cage came an adolescent Rancor that roared loudly and proceeded to start fighting the Zygerrians that were firing upon it.

Kimber mustered what strength she had and pushed herself up onto her knees, watching the chaos that was ensuing. She then saw Wrecker give a much harder tug on the chains and it finally broke, slipping out from the rings that were keeping all of them together. Just as he broke his own bonds and it seemed as though they were going to escape, Raney came over to her and grabbed her by the arm.

“You’re coming with me,” he stated before whistling for his winged creature.

“No!” she cried, but she was still too weakened to stand a chance at fighting back.

The creature landed beside her and Raney and he shoved her onto the back of the creature before climbing on himself. He snapped the reigns and his steed took off into the air, but not before Kimber shouted out to her boys to get their attention.

“He’s got Kimber,” Echo informed the others as they were getting their gear.

“We need to go after Muchi,” said Hunter, having just learned that the raging Rancor was actually their target. “The head Zygerrian will most likely follow after her. We find Muchi, we find Kimber. Let’s move.”

The Bad Batch ran off to find Muchi, splitting up shortly after. Echo and Omega were going to get the other prisoners to safety while Hunter, Wrecker and Tech would keep after Muchi and hopefully get Kimber back.

Up in the air, Kimber was struggling to hold onto the flying creature she was on. She debated pushing herself off to get away from Raney, but she knew she would surely injure herself from up that high, especially with her hands bound together. She wouldn’t be able to brace her fall. The creature swooped down and she spotted Hunter, Wrecker and Tech, who began firing in their direction. She ducked down, keeping her head low to avoid accidentally getting shot. Raney took out his whip and thrust it at them as his creature got closer to the ground, keeping the Clones back. Just as Kimber thought she saw an opening to jump off, the steed took to the air again and was going for the Rancor. The landing after the creature attacked the Rancor was rough and Kimber was knocked onto her back. Raney swung his whip above his head, ready to strike at the Rancor, when suddenly Kimber watched the form of Hunter lunge at him and tackle him off the back of his beast.

“Hunter!” she cried out.

Like the skilled soldier he was, Hunter tucked down and rolled right up to his feet, taking a defensive stance as Raney got himself up off the ground. Kimber took her chance and rolled off the creature, hitting the ground hard on her shoulder and then hiding herself behind some rocks. She watched Hunter remove his knife from his arm guard and then started towards Raney. Raney cracked his whip at Hunter, but Hunter raised his arm and caught the whip around his forearm, tugging it down to try and pull it from Raney’s grasp. However, the whip was activated and the electricity jolted through Hunter’s arm, making him drop his vibroblade as he fell to a knee. Kimber was about ready to cry out to gain Raney’s attention away from him when she was surprised to see Hunter wrap more of the whip around his hand, despite the electric shocks he was getting, get up to his feet and then taking Raney down with a blow to the head and then kicking him square in the chest. Raney flew back a few feet, hit his head as he landed and was knocked unconscious.

Hunter slouched ever so slightly, catching his breath, before crying out, “Kimber! Where are you?”

“I’m over here!” she called back, poking her head out from behind her hiding place.

Hunter grabbed his knife off the ground, dashed over to Kimber and dropped to a knee in front of her. He urgently lifted her hands and slashed through the cuffs that bound her wrists. Once her hands were free, he practically threw off his helmet so he could look at her with his own eyes, looking her over and assessing the damage done to her. There seemed to be nothing he could see immediately, but he would have to check later when she removed her armor. He'd also have to get either Echo or Wrecker to remove her collar.

"Are you okay?" he asked worriedly, grasping her shoulders.

She nodded at him. "Yeah, I’m fine," she said, despite the slight pain she still felt.

Then he asked the question she had been anticipating: "What were you thinking?"

In response, she stated, "I did what any of you would’ve done. I did what I thought was right."

Despite the firm expression on his face, she could still see a trace of fear behind his eyes. "Kimber, you promised that you would never leave us again…that you’d never leave me again."

"I did what I believed was best to ensure you would all be safe."

"No." He took her head in his hands and leaned closer to her as he strongly emphasized, never tearing his eyes away from hers, "We. Stay. Together. Got it? I will not lose you like that ever."

Kimber found any words she could say getting caught in her throat, which was now sore and painful from the shocks and her screams. While she still believed it had been the right thing to do, she still also felt incredible guilt over almost going through with such a choice.

He calmed down a bit, staring into her eyes as if making sure she wouldn't disappear, before saying, caressing her face, "I’ll admit, that was brave of you to do, given your past and your history with that Zygerrian…but don't ever do that again. As long as I’m alive, you will never be a slave again. You hear me?"

She gave him an apologetic nod.

Then he firmly kissed her brow, letting his lips linger on her skin for a moment, and then brought their foreheads together, relishing in the fact that he wasn't going to lose her and that she was still safe with him. "I love you so much," he told her, his emotions almost betraying him.

She reached up and grasped his wrists, leaning further into him. "I love you, too," she replied, her voice strained.

"Are you sure you're okay?" Hunter questioned, pulling back.

Kimber answered, "Physically, I'm still in a little pain and feeling weak, but I should be fine with some rest."

That answer, while not entirely great, still seemed to satisfy Hunter. His sweetheart was strong and he admired that greatly about her. "Good," he said. He pulled her up to her feet and then stated, "Come on, let’s go find Echo or Wrecker and get this collar off you. Then we need to get Muchi and figure out how we're going to get a Rancor back to Cid's."

Kimber halted in her tracks and exclaimed, "Wait…the Rancor is Muchi?!"

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